Interested in writing an Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry?
The following are resources for those that wish to complete an extended essay in the field of Chemistry. The list of steps is not set in stone and is simply provided as a guide to get you started.
1st, Review Format: you should take a look at the EE guide for Chemistry from IB (pg 57-61)
3rd, EE Exemplars: you should look at a couple different examples of Chem EE's that have been provided as exemplars (good examples) from the IB readers:
4th, Chose Topic: you should begin looking into topics of interest:
Focus on a topic that can be experimented in the laboratory (if not a school then you must secure a location)
I do not recommend researching a non-experimental topic. Even if the experiment is only a minor part of the research it is necessary if you would like to earn a decent IB grade!
It should be within the material covered in class, or yet to be covered but may extend past our learning
Find professional journals (below) or reports from various research professors or institutions within that field of study
If possible, by a subscription to a chemical scholarly journal so that you can research material. The American Chemical Society has several Journals that may help: ACS
If possible, email individuals to suggest ideas for simple variable based research that can be completed in the lab to complement the report
When you have a few ideas, schedule a meeting with Mr. Brakke
5th, Experimental Design: Determine what kind of research can be done to support your research. The project does not have to be incredibly complex, but it should be a full lab (D, DCP, CE) and will most likely take several days, weeks, even months to collect the appropriate quantity and accuracy of data. FOCUS ON VARIABLES!! WHAT WILL YOU MANIPULATE AND HOW WILL YOU COLLECT RELEVANT DATA WHILE CONTROLLING FOR EXTRANEOUS FACTORS.
6th, Question: determine a question (pretty much a hypothesis) that may also include a link to the extension of literature research you plan to complete
7th, Research, lab time, work, work, work, etc
8th, Rough Draft. You must follow the outline of the IB Extended Essay as explained in the above documents (title page, abstract, introduction, etc) which will be much easier if your EE is mostly experimental!
9th, Multiple Drafts will need to be revised and corrected.
10th, Originality: Submit your paper to www.turnitin.com using Mr. MacDonalds login for ECA so that the originality of your paper can be confirmed.
11th, Final Draft: Print it out, hand it to Mr. Brakke directly, and be sure to sign the official folder.
Examples of Professional Journals that you may use for resources (I recommend you have between 15-20 resources, 5 or so which will provide the bulk of the direction for your topic): As you read through these Journals, focus on the Abstract and Introduction. Also pay attention to sources that the author sites - if you find citations that repeat themselves you should check the works cited and find that article as it may provide another primary source.
The following are resources for those that wish to complete an extended essay in the field of Chemistry. The list of steps is not set in stone and is simply provided as a guide to get you started.
1st, Review Format: you should take a look at the EE guide for Chemistry from IB (pg 57-61)
2nd, Reader Perspective: you should look at the comments that the IB Chem EE Readers made in 2009:
3rd, EE Exemplars: you should look at a couple different examples of Chem EE's that have been provided as exemplars (good examples) from the IB readers:
4th, Chose Topic: you should begin looking into topics of interest:
5th, Experimental Design: Determine what kind of research can be done to support your research. The project does not have to be incredibly complex, but it should be a full lab (D, DCP, CE) and will most likely take several days, weeks, even months to collect the appropriate quantity and accuracy of data. FOCUS ON VARIABLES!! WHAT WILL YOU MANIPULATE AND HOW WILL YOU COLLECT RELEVANT DATA WHILE CONTROLLING FOR EXTRANEOUS FACTORS.
6th, Question: determine a question (pretty much a hypothesis) that may also include a link to the extension of literature research you plan to complete
7th, Research, lab time, work, work, work, etc
8th, Rough Draft. You must follow the outline of the IB Extended Essay as explained in the above documents (title page, abstract, introduction, etc) which will be much easier if your EE is mostly experimental!
9th, Multiple Drafts will need to be revised and corrected.
10th, Originality: Submit your paper to www.turnitin.com using Mr. MacDonalds login for ECA so that the originality of your paper can be confirmed.
11th, Final Draft: Print it out, hand it to Mr. Brakke directly, and be sure to sign the official folder.
Examples of Professional Journals that you may use for resources (I recommend you have between 15-20 resources, 5 or so which will provide the bulk of the direction for your topic): As you read through these Journals, focus on the Abstract and Introduction. Also pay attention to sources that the author sites - if you find citations that repeat themselves you should check the works cited and find that article as it may provide another primary source.
Contact Mr. Brakke
brakkemh@gmail.com
martinb@eca.com.ve